Discussing Ford's Blueprint for Sustainability

Ford used the Detroit Auto Show to debut its plan for energy security
by releasing information about its new EcoBoost engine technology,
which begins with a direct-gasoline-injected, turbocharged V-6 engine
to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency.

I
was extremely fortunate to be invited to represent AskPatty at a dinner
with Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford and other select journalists to
discuss Ford's "Blueprint for Sustainability." The dinner, hosted by
Sue Cischke, Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Environment and
Safety Engineering, and John Viera, Ford's Director of Sustainable
Business Strategy, presented us an informal opportunity to converse
with Bill Ford and learn more about the company's high-volume
practical, affordable approach to meeting the coming transportation
challenges.

Other journalists in attendance represented such
renowned publications as the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, The
Washington Post, Forbes Business Magazine, and others. It was an
unbelievable honor to be present among such respected journalists. In
fact, I felt a bit like a goldfish in a pond full of very impressive
Koi.

Bill Ford essentially summarized this engine as 'democratizing the
technology,' and it's an analogy that makes a lot of sense: Ford is
placing much of its plan for future sustainability into this platform
because it allows eco-minded shoppers to buy vehicles right now that
are affordable, fuel-efficient, and don't require them to change how
they drive and fuel their vehicles.

While
additional hybrid offerings and diesel engines are planned for
light-duty vehicles, and Ford still plans to continue to develop
plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel-cell-powered vehicles, EcoBoost
offers a mainstream solution that is available to consumers
immediately, and which will continue to expand across the
Ford/Lincoln/Mercury lineup within the next year. "EcoBoost puts an
affordable technology within reach for millions of customers," says
Derrick Kuzak, Ford's Group Vice President of Global Product
Development. (Let's all give a round of sincere applause here!)

Methods
in development by other manufacturers require the creation of an
entirely new fuel delivery infrastructure (Hydrogen fuel cells), are
perceived as environmentally unfriendly and questionable in realistic
production (battery-operated electric plug-ins), are too regional to
make a difference nationwide (E85 Flex-Fuel capable powerplants), or
simply require an expensive cost of entry at the time of purchase
(hybrid motors). Ecoboost technology aims to avoid these difficulties
by offering an efficient powerplant that promises to break even against
the increased entry cost in a shorter amount of time than other
options, while also allowing its users to maintain their current
driving and fueling methods. It creates a situation where everybody
wins.

How does it work? The EcoBoost engine carefully times
delivery of precise doses of gasoline directly into the cylinder to
encourage a more fuel-efficient combustion process with reduced
emissions. Turbocharging utilizes additional energy from the exhaust to
deliver additional boost to the fuel combustion process. These two
technologies combine to offer up to 20 percent improvement in fuel
economy, up to 15 percent reduction in C02 emissions, and an increase
in performance that makes a V-6 engine feel like a V-8, or a
four-cylinder feel like a six.

"EcoBoost is meaningful because it can be applied across a wide variety
of engine types in a range of vehicles, from small cars to large trucks
- and it's affordable," says Kuzak. "Compared with the current cost of
diesel and hybrid technologies, customers in North America can expect
to recoup their initial investment in a four-cylinder EcoBoost engine
through fuel savings in approximately 30 months. A diesel in North
America will take an average of seven and one-half years, while the
cost of a hybrid will take nearly 12 years to recoup - given equivalent
miles driven per year and fuel costs," he said.

But the EcoBoost system goes beyond "just" the type of engine under the
hood. When combined with better tuned multi-speed transmissions,
advanced electric power steering, weight reductions within the
construction of the vehicles themselves, and additional aerodynamic
improvements, Ford believes EcoBoost can be the cornerstone to
delivering an entire selection of affordable, sustainable, quality
vehicles that customers want and value.

Placing
the first iterations of this engine into large, luxurious vehicles like
the 2009 Lincoln MKS allows Ford to create an immediate benefit in a
segment that most needs the added efficiency - lots of people want to
drive these big, luxurious vehicles and with gas prices being what they
are, also want better fuel economy -- but this engine also creates the
first step toward reducing the company's overall Corporate Average Fuel
Economy numbers. It will follow by introducing this powerplant into the
Ford Flex, and other vehicles, promising more than a half-million
EcoBoost-powered vehicles on the road annually in North America by
2013. That's a lot of vehicles in a short period of time. And not just
big, honking SUVs, but other smaller and sportier cars as well.

I
for one am looking forward to seeing it in the Verve -- aka Fiesta -- when that vehicle is offered
for sale in the United States. Thanks, Ford, for creating an option for
sustainability that makes sense, right now.